All posts by h716a5.icu

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Juventus are considering a bid for Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Christian Eriksen, per Calciomercato.

The report claims that the Italian club are weighing up the prospect of making a proposal for the Denmark international, who has also been linked with Real Madrid, in the summer.

What’s the word?

Eriksen has been stalling on signing a new deal at Spurs for some time and his current contract expires in 2020.

The aforementioned report claims that Juve have been scouting Eriksen for some time and are exploring the possibility of a deal in the summer.

The Independent reported in January that Real had initiated contact with Spurs over the feasibility of a transfer that could be worth £100million.

Juve, though, are also hopeful of securing his signature and have opened talks with the star’s entourage.

The report also claims, however, that Spurs remain confident he will eventually sign a contract extension; even if he doesn’t, the price of any deal could go through the roof if a bidding war is initiated.

Good news for Levy

If the north London outfit want to receive the best possible price for a player who has somewhat flattered to deceive in recent months, this can only be good news.

Juventus entering the bidding as a serious contender will only drive the price up and could see Mauricio Pochettino receive a king’s ransom for his playmaker.

As it is, Eriksen has scored one goal and laid on one assist in his last seven games and has let several of those fixtures pass him by.

Learning of Juve’s interest is likely to pique the ears of chairman Daniel Levy, who may have to undergo a period of intense restructuring of the club’s squad this summer.

Eriksen is, despite his current importance, expendable, and Spurs will want to receive the highest possible fee they can if they can’t convince him to stay.

Playing the Italian and Spanish giants off against each other is a smart idea, provided the fee received, however astronomical, is reinvested into the playing squad.

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On Friday Birmingham’s worst fears became reality with confirmation arriving that the club is set for a nine-point deduction for a breach of spending rules.

It’s news that is set to plummet the club into relegation trouble, moving them from 13th in the Championship to 18th. As a result, they will now sit just five points off the drop zone. The Blues had initially been in with an outside bet of making the playoffs but any chance of that has now been swiftly eradicated.

As expected, supporters of the club have been busy reacting to the news on Twitter as some noted that it wouldn’t be a normal campaign for the Midlands club if they weren’t embroiled in a relegation battle.

There were split opinions though as some shared frustration and were shocked, calling it garbage and that financial fair play was flawed. Others demanded to know what the deduction was actually for.

However, with it originally thought to be in the region of 12 points, some fans feel as though the outcome isn’t so bad.

The club were put under a transfer embargo last summer whilst the EFL looked into their breach of profitability and sustainability rules so it’s a case that has dragged on for an extensive period of time.

During the embargo, Birmingham signed Kristian Pedersen which is something that is unlikely to have helped their cause either.

Although they are set to be nine points worse off, supporters will take comfort in the fact that matters have finally come to a conclusion.

Here’s how some segments of the St Andrew’s faithful have reacted.

As things stand, Arsenal are surely set to release Denis Suarez back to Barcelona in the summer after failing to impress manager Unai Emery or making no real impact so far in his time in the Premier League. As per the terms of his loan agreement, the former Manchester City youngster will be making the trip back to the Camp Nou having achieved a whole lot of nothing in north London. 

To be honest Arsenal fans, he’s been even more invisible than Mesut Ozil in a big game.

Still, having played only 67 minutes in total in the league and 28 minutes in the Europa League it is a bit unfair from the club to say or suggest that he hasn’t pulled his weight – something he recently hit back on – or offered Arsenal anything yet to get excited about.

The Gunners completed a loan move for Suarez in January, with the option to buy him on a permanent deal in the summer and given the big names currently at Barcelona, it is hard to see him go back to the Spanish giants and claim a spot in the first-team. Arsenal, though, are a club who might actually benefit from his services in the long run and could still find him of high value should he be at the club for a full season.

It was also always going to be difficult for Emery to hand Suarez regular starts in order to prove himself to the manager given it’s a stage of the season where the Gunners can’t really afford to experiment with new players.

Emery has done an excellent job in getting Arsenal back into the top-four but still has a couple of big matches away from home to focus on before the end of the season, meaning it is highly unlikely that the manager would use those matches as an opportunity to start Suarez and let him complete a full 90 minutes.

The timing of Suarez having to show his worth to the manager has just been wrong, which makes it unfair of the club to say he hasn’t done enough to warrant a permanent contract at Arsenal.

Of course, sealing a permanent deal for the Spaniard could be seen as risky as he hasn’t exactly done that much of late but that can be put down to the lack of minutes he’s received on the field.

Although, whether Arsenal play in the Champions League next season or not, they should consider the future of the club and make him part of Emery’s plans to make Arsenal a powerhouse once again.

Arsenal fans, do you think Suarez has been treated harshly? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

Tottenham lost, Chelsea and Manchester United were lucky to win, now it’s down to Unai Emery and co.

Another fortuitous weekend in the Premier League means that if Arsenal can do the business over Newcastle, the north London side will go third in the league table for the first time this season.

Not bad for a team who most fans and critics had written off for Champions League contention a few weeks ago.

And given the Gunners record against the northeast club, their last loss against the Toon at the Emirates coming in 2010, it looks likely that Emery’s side will be sitting third in the Premier League come Monday night.

But with the pressure now on Arsenal to deliver, it is vital the north London side forget their sins of the past and focus on doing something fans have been wanting their side to do for years, not bottle it when the going gets tough.

We have seen, on multiple occasions, Arsenal embarrass themselves in about every way possible. From losing to Birmingham City in the League Cup final to the entirety of the 2013/14 Premier League season, the Gunners have been a club to crack under the pressure when it is applied.

But sometimes the club gets through it. For every League Cup final loss there is a FA Cup final that Arsenal somehow won, and for every failed title challenge there is a somehow sneaking into a Champions League place story to go along with it.

We are yet to see if Emery can take this club through pressure and come out the winner at the end of the tunnel, but a win against Newcastle would be a great starting point, now it’s just up to the Spaniard and the team to ensure they have moved from the banter years.

Arsenal fans, can the club finish third this season? Join the discussion by commenting below!…

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We saw it happen last season, and it can’t happen again for Pep Guardiola’s men.

Manchester City suffered defeat at this stage of the Champions League last year, crashing out at the quarter-final stage to Liverpool after a calamitous first leg.

The Reds were fantastic on the day, racing into a 3-0 lead before half-time in front of a raucous Anfield atmosphere, which looked to visibly unsettle the Citizens.

Who has been the best player in the EPL so far this season? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

Whilst Tottenham aren’t as renowned for creating an intimidating atmosphere as Liverpool are, this evening’s quarter-final tie is set to be only the second game held in Spurs’ new stadium, and the first Champions League night there.

The first game against Crystal Palace saw the home fans create a party atmosphere as they won 2-0, and if the 62,000 inside the new White Hart Lane can raise the decibels around north London and inspire their players, City could be in for a tough night.

Guardiola’s men are still in with a shot at winning the quadruple, which, whilst it is a commendable position to be in, is sure to cause fatigue for some players – the reigning Premier League champions played as recently as Saturday in a tough FA Cup semi-final against Brighton, in which they only scraped a 1-0 win.

A lot of Mauricio Pochettino’s star players have spoken of their excitement at playing in the new stadium, and if Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Heung-min Son and Christian Eriksen are all on song, we may see a repeat of last season’s quarter-final failure for City.

They are also notorious for underperforming in Europe’s greatest club competition in recent seasons, failing to replicate their swashbuckling domestic displays.

What Guardiola’s side must do is ensure that they focus on the game, and not the occasion.

They must not get sucked into what is sure to be a vociferous atmosphere, and at the very least, need to stay in the tie for the second leg where they will be much more comfortable at the Etihad Stadium.

It’s no secret that Everton are in desperate need of a goalscorer. Birmingham front-man Che Adams can be just that player if Marco Silva is willing to take the gamble.

The 22-year-old has been tearing up the Championship, scoring 22 goals and making four assists in 40 games this season. He’s on fire and Football Insider 247 believe he’s caught the eye of the Toffees this season.

To challenge for a place in the top six next term, Everton need more goals than top scorers Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson are providing, that’s 13 each. Neither of those are out-and-out strikers and that’s what the Goodison faithful have wanted since the departure of Romelu Lukaku.

Che Adams is the perfect fit to take over that role, and the fact he’s playing in the Championship shouldn’t put the Toffees off. He’s valued at just £6.3m on Transfermarkt and that’s a bargain compared to the amount they’d be spending on a player of a similar age at a top-level club.

The signing wouldn’t come with any pressure to perform right away, considering his low price tag and lack of world-class reputation. Any impact he has would be seen positively, and then he could fit himself into Marco Silva’s team gradually and become the main man they so desperately need.

It’s time Everton stopped buying 15-goals-per-season strikers and finally brought in a natural finisher to take them onto the next step of their regeneration project.

The fans’ patience is running out, so the board had better get negotiating.

Everton fans, who do you think should start up top for your club next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

What a season! With a spot secure in the play-off places plus a Checkatrade Trophy under their belts, Portsmouth fans are overjoyed about just how successful this year has been. Still, there’s one last objective to reach – automatic promotion. 

Indeed, a trip back to Wembley certainly brought all the fond memories back for those loyal supporters and now they remain in hope that they can reach the Championship next season.

Obviously, it will be an extremely difficult task to battle through the play-offs but Portsmouth do have the quality that could result in a very tricky game for whoever may face them.

With confidence sky-high and rumours already circulating ahead of the summer, Portsmouth must do their best to retain their better players so they can ensure that whatever league they maybe in next season, they are well equipped to do well.

A striker looks to be a role that Portsmouth will need to fill with both James Vaughan and Omar Bogle set to leave when their loans run out. In their place, a reunion with David Nugent should definitely be an idea that crosses Kenny Jackett’s mind.

Nugent, (who is valued at £1.8 million on Transfermarkt) has been limited to just 11 starts in the Championship this season and with his contract up in the summer, it’s unlikely he will remain a Derby player beyond that.

Whilst at Pompey previously, Nugent managed 20 goals in 93 appearances and although now at the age of 33, he would still be viewed as a striker that could provide a good service. Clearly still fond of the club, he shushed the Southampton fans at St. Mary’s earlier this season when the Rams beat the Premier League side in the cup.

Whether it’s League One or Championship football for Portsmouth next season, David Nugent (who was linked with a return to the club by the Daily Mirror via The News in January) has a wealth of experience that could make him a strong asset in either division.

Would you want to see David Nugent back at Fratton Park? If not, why not? Join the discussion and let us know!

Rangers have seen their fair share of footballing legends over the years, and former Ajax and Barcelona icon Frank de Boer is one of them.

It is, in many ways, an honour to represent Rangers, one of the most successful teams in the land. Ibrox has housed some of the greatest players to have ever have played the game, the like of Ally McCoist, Paul Gascoigne, Ian Durrant, Barry Ferguson, Terry Butcher, Brian Laudrup and Davie Cooper all fortunate enough to strut their stuff in the famous blue shirt.

Indeed, such an iconic club deserves equally special players, and Frank de Boer was one of them – on paper at least. The former Ajax rock sat at the back during a period of complete dominance for the Dutch club, winning five domestic titles and the Champions League in 1995. He was one of the pioneers of the modern beautiful game; a multi-talented player who possessed both the ability to create and defend with equal amounts of zeal.

You would have thought that De Boer, heading into the twilight years of his illustrious career, would have wanted to finish at a club like Rangers. But apparently not.

“I’ve read this information and it’s false; I think that in a week I’ll talk to Barcelona about an extension to my contract,” the player explained upon hearing news of his link-up with broker Ronald (as per Sky Sports).

“I am not looking for a new team; In an ideal world, I would finish my career at Barca and I really can’t see myself playing in Scotland.”

The former Netherlands international joined Rangers in 2004 (as per BBC News). Despite claiming that he wanted a return to the level he used to play at in prep for the Euros that year, De Boer only managed 16 appearances for the club before moving on to Qatari side Al-Rayyan.

Pretty uneventful stuff.

He has since taken up management to mixed results. Four consecutive Dutch titles with Ajax were quickly followed by a disastrous period in Italy with Inter Milan, where he sacked after just 14 games in charge – and, as far as we are concerned, will go down as one of the clubs worst ever coaches.

Just when we thought things could not get any worse though, Crystal Palace happened. Now that blew us off our feet. How could one man be that bad, you might ask? We are yet to know. After some choice words on Jose Mourinho’s management style and handling of prospect Marcus Rashford, the Portuguese tactician hit back and called the former Palace boss the ‘worst manager in the history of the Premier League’ (as per BBC Sport).

Frank de Boer now manages MLS outfit Atalanta United, and we cannot say things are going much better for him across the pond – winning just three games, drawing two and losing four. Not great for a side who were crowned champions last season.

Rangers fans, what are some of your standout memories of Frank de Boer (if any)? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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West Brom’s game with Reading was far from a classic. However, in drawing 0-0 it was a result that was enough to seal both sides’ fate. For the Royals it was a point that ensured they’d be playing in the Championship against next season, and for the Baggies it meant they secured a play-off spot.

Naturally, the defenders will take the plaudits when both sides keep a clean sheet but from a West Brom point of view, this will come as a much-needed boost going into the remaining games.

Under James Shan, there have been some questionable defensive contributions, no less so than at Ashton Gate when the club found themselves 3-0 down in the first half against Bristol City.

But this was a much improved defensive display as West Brom secured their first shutout in six games.

One of the men to make a difference was captain for the day Kyle Bartley. The former Arsenal man was absolutely tremendous for Leeds in the Championship in 2016/17, but this term he hasn’t been able to replicate that.

His performances have largely been disappointing, and as such he’s taken a barrage of criticism from West Brom fans on social media.

However, against Reading, the club looked a lot better for Bartley starting and he was able to prove his doubters wrong with a busy and industrious display at left centre-back.

The 27-year-old was solid at the back and since Shan has moved to a three-man defence following that defeat against Bristol City, the defence and team as a whole have looked much better.

The 40-year-old made plenty of changes for the draw with Reading, and as a result they lacked their attacking potency which was in evidence against Preston.

But defensively there was a renewed purpose and Bartley has the new system to thank for his improved displays in the past two matches he’s played.

His passing accuracy was bettered only by Rekeem Harper in the West Brom side whilst the fact he won 100% of his aerial duels shows the force he can be when the ball isn’t on the ground, too.

Without Ahmed Hegazi, Albion have looked confused in defence but the performance of Bartley in particular on Monday will give their supporters extra confidence going into the play-offs.

For Shan, his most impressive feat yet is perhaps getting players like him in form.

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Xherdan Shaqiri came off the Liverpool bench at St James’ Park on Saturday night to help his side record a 3-2 win over Newcastle United.

Jurgen Klopp’s side simply had to win to keep their title hopes alive, and it was Shaqiri’s late free kick which Divock Origi headed into the back of the net.

Shaqiri has played in 24 of Liverpool’s 37 Premier League matches this term – contributing six goals and three assists.

It would be wrong to call the 27-year-old a key player for the Merseyside giants, but he has certainly had his moments for the club this season.

And now a number of Liverpool fans have taken to social media to call for the attacker to be named in the starting XI against Barcelona on Tuesday night.

Klopp’s side will welcome the Spanish champions to Anfield for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final trailing 3-0 from the first leg at Camp Nou.

Are the media letting Jurgen Klopp off lightly for his lack of silverware? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

It is going to take some performance to turn things around on Merseyside, but a number of Liverpool fans believe that Shaqiri should be involved in some capacity, with Roberto Firmino ruled out of the second leg.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below: